Japanese officials groped on Monday for an explanation of why a blaze ripped through an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyoto-animation-fire-suspect-has-criminal-record-was-treated-for-mental-health-issues-report-237136">animation company</a>, amid reports that smoke spread so fast that a majority of victims who had tried to flee through a rooftop door could not open it in time to escape.

One of Japan's worst mass killings in decades, Thursday's attack at Kyoto Animation killed 34 after a man shouting "Die!" set <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/japanese-authorities-issue-arrest-warrant-for-suspect-in-kyoto-arson-attack-237327">ablaze a bucket of gasoline</a> he had poured at the building entrance.&nbsp;

Nineteen of the dead were found piled on top of each other on a stairway from the third floor to a door leading to the roof, with some early reports suggesting it could not be opened from the inside.

But police quoted by NHK national television on Monday said investigations had shown that while the door could be opened from the inside, smoke from the blaze appeared to have spread so fast it overcame the victims before they could do so.

Junzo Yamamoto, head of the National Public Safety Commission, offered flowers at the site before stepping into the building's blackened hulk to inspect it.

"The question of how we can prevent this kind of incident is extremely difficult to answer," Yamamoto told reporters. "Before getting there we need to clarify the whole picture."

Of the 26 people whose autopsy results have been released, 20 burned to death, three suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and two suffocated, Kyoto police said. The cause of death of one was undetermined.

Fire officials told a city assembly panel that everything at the building had complied with the fire code and they were investigating why so many lives were lost, NHK said.

The company had run sufficient fire drills and taken all steps required by law, including "hanging walls" designed to stop smoke from rising, it added.

Earlier, experts said a spiral staircase near where the fire had been lit acted as a chimney, carrying the smoke upwards through all three storeys. Survivors have described a "dark mushroom cloud" of smoke rising the staircase.

The tragedy left the company at a loss, it said in a statement late on Sunday.

"All of these people were our talented, precious colleagues," it said. "Both for us here, as well as the animation industry as a whole, this is a huge blow."

Late on Saturday, police issued an arrest warrant for suspect Shinji Aoba, 41, a loner from a city near Tokyo who is in the hospital with serious burns. Police plan to arrest him once he recovers.

Japanese officials groped on Monday for an explanation of why a blaze ripped through an animation company, amid reports that smoke spread so fast that a majority of victims who had tried to flee through a rooftop door could not open it in time to escape.

Japanese officials groped on Monday for an explanation of why a blaze ripped through an animation company, amid reports that smoke spread so fast that a majority of victims who had tried to flee through a rooftop door could not open it in time to escape. One of Japan's worst mass killings in decades, Thursday's attack at Kyoto Animation killed 34 after a man shouting "Die!" set ablaze a bucket of gasoline he had poured at the building entrance. Nineteen of the dead were found piled on top of each other on a stairway from the third floor to a door leading to the roof, with some early reports suggesting it could not be opened from the inside. But police quoted by NHK national television on Monday said investigations had shown that while the door could be opened from the inside, smoke from the blaze appeared to have spread so fast it overcame the victims before they could do so. Junzo Yamamoto, head of the National Public Safety Commission, offered flowers at the site before stepping into the building's blackened hulk to inspect it. "The question of how we can prevent this kind of incident is extremely difficult to answer," Yamamoto told reporters. "Before getting there we need to clarify the whole picture." Of the 26 people whose autopsy results have been released, 20 burned to death, three suffered carbon monoxide poisoning and two suffocated, Kyoto police said. The cause of death of one was undetermined. Fire officials told a city assembly panel that everything at the building had complied with the fire code and they were investigating why so many lives were lost, NHK said. The company had run sufficient fire drills and taken all steps required by law, including "hanging walls" designed to stop smoke from rising, it added. Earlier, experts said a spiral staircase near where the fire had been lit acted as a chimney, carrying the smoke upwards through all three storeys. Survivors have described a "dark mushroom cloud" of smoke rising the staircase. The tragedy left the company at a loss, it said in a statement late on Sunday. "All of these people were our talented, precious colleagues," it said. "Both for us here, as well as the animation industry as a whole, this is a huge blow." Late on Saturday, police issued an arrest warrant for suspect Shinji Aoba, 41, a loner from a city near Tokyo who is in the hospital with serious burns. Police plan to arrest him once he recovers.

Japan officials hunt for reasons behind devastating fire that killed 34

Japanese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the man suspected of an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyoto-animation-fire-suspect-has-criminal-record-was-treated-for-mental-health-issues-report-237136">arson attack on an animation studio in western Japan</a> that killed 34 people, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday.

Authorities issued the warrant for 41-year-old Shinji Aoba related to arson and murder after the attack on Kyoto Animation on Thursday, NHK said.

Police plan to arrest Aoba, who has been hospitalised for heavy burns and was earlier airlifted by helicopter to a university hospital in nearby Osaka, once he recovers, NHK said.

Thirty-four&nbsp;people were killed in the fire on Thursday at the Kyoto Animation studio. Experts say the fire&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/spiral-stairs-no-sprinklers-may-have-contributed-to-deadly-japan-fire-237105">spread so fast</a>&nbsp;not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it.

Shouting "die" and screaming&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-arsonist-believed-his-novel-was-stolen-by-japanese-studio-report-237091">accusations of plagiarism</a>&nbsp;sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze.

The man who believed to have started the fire at an animation studio in Japan's Kyoto has a criminal record, Russia's Sputnik News said, citing sources in Japan.

The report further said that that the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Shinji Aoba by the Japan Police, was indicted in 2012 for committing a robbery at a convenience store. He also served a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, said the Russian news agency.

The suspect has a history of being treated for mental health issues and lives on welfare, the news outlet said. He is currently receiving treatment for the burns caused by the fire and will be questioned by the police.

Japanese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the man suspected of an arson attack on an animation studio in western Japan that killed 34 people, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday.

Japanese authorities have issued an arrest warrant for the man suspected of an arson attack on an animation studio in western Japan that killed 34 people, public broadcaster NHK said on Saturday. Authorities issued the warrant for 41-year-old Shinji Aoba related to arson and murder after the attack on Kyoto Animation on Thursday, NHK said. Police plan to arrest Aoba, who has been hospitalised for heavy burns and was earlier airlifted by helicopter to a university hospital in nearby Osaka, once he recovers, NHK said. Thirty-four people were killed in the fire on Thursday at the Kyoto Animation studio. Experts say the fire spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it. Shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze. The man who believed to have started the fire at an animation studio in Japan's Kyoto has a criminal record, Russia's Sputnik News said, citing sources in Japan. The report further said that that the suspect, identified as 41-year-old Shinji Aoba by the Japan Police, was indicted in 2012 for committing a robbery at a convenience store. He also served a prison sentence of three-and-a-half years, said the Russian news agency. The suspect has a history of being treated for mental health issues and lives on welfare, the news outlet said. He is currently receiving treatment for the burns caused by the fire and will be questioned by the police.

Japanese authorities issue arrest warrant for suspect in Kyoto arson attack

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/suspected-arsonist-believed-his-novel-was-stolen-by-japanese-studio-report-237091">The fire that tore through a building</a> in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday.

A man shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze.

That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said.

But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire.

"The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect.

"Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke."

Watch:&nbsp;Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead

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The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said.

An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said.

Buildings usually fall into different categories depending on size, said Shinichi Sugawara, a professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science.

While fire shutters are often required around structures like spiral staircases, to enclose then to prevent the spread of fire, Sugawara said he had heard that they were not needed in this case.

Some Japanese media has said that was because of the building's relatively small floor space.

"I personally think that all places like that should have shutters, and all buildings should have sprinklers, regardless of size," he said.

But the most lethal factor may simply have been the petrol.

"Petrol vaporizes quickly and really burns fast, and given the kind of business it was, there may have been a lot of papers and things lying around," Sugawara added.

"Then the smoke would rise up the stairs."

The fire that tore through a building in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday.

The fire that tore through a building in Japan killing 33 people may have spread so fast not only because it was fuelled by petrol but because it was funnelled up a spiral staircase and there were no sprinklers to douse it, experts said on Friday. A man shouting "die" and screaming accusations of plagiarism sloshed what appeared to be petrol in the three-storey Kyoto Animation building on Thursday before setting it ablaze. That alone could have been enough to make it impossible for victims to escape, architects said. But an open, three-storey spiral staircase inside the building created an especially deadly environment for fire. "The structure of the building was that it had one spiral staircase penetrating through three floors acting as a chimney, the most effective way of starting a fire," said Momoko Higuchi, a Tokyo-based architect. "Because the fire was with petrol, the effect was like a bomb. Most died of smoke." Watch: Suspected arson attack in Japan leaves at least 30 dead The building did not have sprinklers, nor indoor fire hydrants, but it did not have to have them under Japan's fire code, a Kyoto Fire Department official said. An inspection of the building in October had found no fire safety problems, he said. Buildings usually fall into different categories depending on size, said Shinichi Sugawara, a professor emeritus at Tokyo University of Science. While fire shutters are often required around structures like spiral staircases, to enclose then to prevent the spread of fire, Sugawara said he had heard that they were not needed in this case. Some Japanese media has said that was because of the building's relatively small floor space. "I personally think that all places like that should have shutters, and all buildings should have sprinklers, regardless of size," he said. But the most lethal factor may simply have been the petrol. "Petrol vaporizes quickly and really burns fast, and given the kind of business it was, there may have been a lot of papers and things lying around," Sugawara added. "Then the smoke would rise up the stairs."

Spiral stairs, no sprinklers may have contributed to deadly Japan fire

A man suspected of torching an animation studio in Japan, killing 33 people in the country's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/appalling-arson-attack-on-japanese-animation-studio-kills-at-least-33-236930">worst mass killing in two decades</a>, planned the attack because he believed his novel had been plagiarised, media said on Friday.

The unidentified man shouted "Die!" before dousing the entrance to Kyoto Animation's studio building with what appeared to be petrol and setting it ablaze around 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Thursday, media said.

The 41-year-old told the police, "I did it," when he was detained, adding he had started the fire because he believed the studio had stolen his novel, Kyodo news said, citing investigative sources.

Kyoto police declined to comment. Broadcaster Nippon TV said he was under anaesthesia after burning himself and police were unable to question him.

He "seemed to be discontented, he seemed to get angry, shouting something about how he had been plagiarised", a woman who saw the suspect being detained told reporters.

The explosive blaze killed 33 people and 10 more were in critical condition, authorities said late on Thursday. It marks the worst mass killing since a suspected arson attack in Tokyo killed 44 in 2001.

A resident of the Tokyo suburb of Saitama, some 480 km (300 miles) east of the ancient capital of Kyoto, the man was believed to have bought two 20 litre gasoline cans at a hardware store and prepared the petrol in a park near the studio, Nippon TV said, citing police.

He came to the area on train, the broadcaster said. Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of what it said appeared to be the man lying on his back as he spoke to a police officer, shoeless and with apparent burns on his right leg below the knee.

The man had no connection with Kyoto Animation and his driver's licence gave an address in Saitama, a northern suburb of Tokyo, NHK said.

None of the victims' identities had been disclosed as of Friday. There were 74 people inside when the fire started, Kyodo said.

"I imagine many of the people who died were in their twenties," said 71-year-old Kozo Tsujii, fighting back tears after laying flowers near the studio in the rain on Friday morning. He said he drives by the studio on his daily commute.

"I'm just very, very sad that these people who are so much younger than me passed away so prematurely," he said.

Bodies piled up

Nineteen of the 33 who died had been found on the staircase leading up to the roof from the third floor, bodies piled on top of others, Kyodo news agency said, citing authorities.

Firefighters arriving soon after the fire began found the door to the roof was shut but could be opened from the outside, Kyodo said.

The victims may have rushed up the stairs to escape the blaze on the lower floors and found themselves unable to open the door, it added.

The fire wasn't put out until early on Friday morning.

Police investigators searched the smouldering shell of the building for evidence in an investigation that Kyodo said covered suspected arson, murder and attempted murder.

"I love fighting games, all things about Japan," said Blake Henderson, a 26-year-old Alabama native and fan of the anime studio who had come to pay his respects.

"I love Japan so much and this one incident won't change my entire perspective on Japan, but it still hurts," he said.

Petrol cans

Two petrol cans, a rucksack and a trolley were found near the site, and television images showed what appeared to be five long knives laid out by police as possible evidence on the ground outside the three-storey building.

Kyoto Animation, located in a quiet suburb about 20 minutes by train from the centre of Japan's ancient capital, produces popular "anime" series such as the "Sound! Euphonium".

Its "Free! Road to the World - The Dream" movie is due for release this month.

Jun Shin, a 30-year-old Chinese man living in nearby Osaka, visited the site on Thursday night to place flowers near the burnt-out office and say a prayer.

"I am an anime fan," Jun, an information technology worker, told Reuters. "I have watched animation since I was a student, and this was a terrible event, I just want to come and mourn. It left me speechless."

A man suspected of torching an animation studio in Japan, killing 33 people in the country's worst mass killing in two decades, planned the attack because he believed his novel had been plagiarised, media said on Friday.

A man suspected of torching an animation studio in Japan, killing 33 people in the country's worst mass killing in two decades, planned the attack because he believed his novel had been plagiarised, media said on Friday. The unidentified man shouted "Die!" before dousing the entrance to Kyoto Animation's studio building with what appeared to be petrol and setting it ablaze around 10:30 a.m. (0130 GMT) on Thursday, media said. The 41-year-old told the police, "I did it," when he was detained, adding he had started the fire because he believed the studio had stolen his novel, Kyodo news said, citing investigative sources. Kyoto police declined to comment. Broadcaster Nippon TV said he was under anaesthesia after burning himself and police were unable to question him. He "seemed to be discontented, he seemed to get angry, shouting something about how he had been plagiarised", a woman who saw the suspect being detained told reporters. The explosive blaze killed 33 people and 10 more were in critical condition, authorities said late on Thursday. It marks the worst mass killing since a suspected arson attack in Tokyo killed 44 in 2001. A resident of the Tokyo suburb of Saitama, some 480 km (300 miles) east of the ancient capital of Kyoto, the man was believed to have bought two 20 litre gasoline cans at a hardware store and prepared the petrol in a park near the studio, Nippon TV said, citing police. He came to the area on train, the broadcaster said. Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of what it said appeared to be the man lying on his back as he spoke to a police officer, shoeless and with apparent burns on his right leg below the knee. The man had no connection with Kyoto Animation and his driver's licence gave an address in Saitama, a northern suburb of Tokyo, NHK said. None of the victims' identities had been disclosed as of Friday. There were 74 people inside when the fire started, Kyodo said. "I imagine many of the people who died were in their twenties," said 71-year-old Kozo Tsujii, fighting back tears after laying flowers near the studio in the rain on Friday morning. He said he drives by the studio on his daily commute. "I'm just very, very sad that these people who are so much younger than me passed away so prematurely," he said. Bodies piled up Nineteen of the 33 who died had been found on the staircase leading up to the roof from the third floor, bodies piled on top of others, Kyodo news agency said, citing authorities. Firefighters arriving soon after the fire began found the door to the roof was shut but could be opened from the outside, Kyodo said. The victims may have rushed up the stairs to escape the blaze on the lower floors and found themselves unable to open the door, it added. The fire wasn't put out until early on Friday morning. Police investigators searched the smouldering shell of the building for evidence in an investigation that Kyodo said covered suspected arson, murder and attempted murder. "I love fighting games, all things about Japan," said Blake Henderson, a 26-year-old Alabama native and fan of the anime studio who had come to pay his respects. "I love Japan so much and this one incident won't change my entire perspective on Japan, but it still hurts," he said. Petrol cans Two petrol cans, a rucksack and a trolley were found near the site, and television images showed what appeared to be five long knives laid out by police as possible evidence on the ground outside the three-storey building. Kyoto Animation, located in a quiet suburb about 20 minutes by train from the centre of Japan's ancient capital, produces popular "anime" series such as the "Sound! Euphonium". Its "Free! Road to the World - The Dream" movie is due for release this month. Jun Shin, a 30-year-old Chinese man living in nearby Osaka, visited the site on Thursday night to place flowers near the burnt-out office and say a prayer. "I am an anime fan," Jun, an information technology worker, told Reuters. "I have watched animation since I was a student, and this was a terrible event, I just want to come and mourn. It left me speechless."

Suspected arsonist believed his novel was stolen by Japanese studio: Report

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Japan officials hunt for reasons behind devastating fire that killed 34

Japanese authorities issue arrest warrant for suspect in Kyoto arson attack

Spiral stairs, no sprinklers may have contributed to deadly Japan fire

Suspected arsonist believed his novel was stolen by Japanese studio: Report